[instaviz-users] Getting graphs out of Instaviz

[Glen Low]

Brandon

On 27/11/2008, at 8:16 AM, Brandon Fosdick wrote:

> Glen Low wrote:
>> Quite likely I'll make a custom modification of the current Graphviz
>> package so that you can open the graphs straight from your own  
>> backup.
>> Note that the files are encoded in plists so it's not a
>> straightforward open from the file system. The custom mods will make
>> their way back to AT&T, if they are interested in having them.
>
> I was thinking something more along the lines of exporting to a  
> google docs text file that I could then download and open with a  
> stock graphviz. Requiring a patched version of graphviz seems less  
> than optimal.

Perhaps, but I was thinking of something more seamless.

In the vein of grabbing the graphs from the backups, I could write a  
separate tool to extract the .gv files and then you only need the  
stock Graphviz to view them.

But thinking of the workflow for first time users:

1.	Download my desktop viewer app and install.
2.	Download the Graphviz package and install.
3.	Connect iPod or iPhone to the computer for sync.
4.	Run my app to extract the gv files.
5.	Run Graphviz to view the files.

At least with an integrated viewer I can cut down on step 2. and 5. (I  
might just write a super-simple integrated viewer which would allow  
saving, exporting and printing only, a no-install viewer...)

The other thing that's nice about using backups is that I don't have  
to rely on the user having WiFi (I can't imagine how to route through  
3G/Edge to the wider Internet and back to the user's machine, assuming  
it is on the Internet... guess that's why I'm not a bittorrent  
millionaire)... the USB cable is probably the minimum setup a user  
needs to have to connect his iPhone or iPod Touch anyway.




Cheers, Glen Low


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